Polo and Wine Tasting Weekend in California: A Santa Ynez Guide

There is a particular rhythm to a weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley when the polo season is running. Mornings begin with soft light over the vineyard rows, midday belongs to the tasting terrace, and the afternoon carries the low drum of hooves on turf. Few places in the country pair the two so naturally, and this one sits just two hours north of Los Angeles.

At Polo House Hotel, we wrote this guide for guests planning a polo and wine tasting weekend in California, and specifically here, in the valley we call home. It gathers the clubs where you can watch a match, the wineries worth a reservation, the dining rooms locals book weeks ahead, and the quiet timing that keeps a weekend unhurried rather than overfilled. Much of it begins a short walk from our door in the heart of Santa Ynez, and none of it sits more than an easy drive away.

Why Santa Ynez Is California’s Polo and Wine Weekend

Polo has deep roots in this corner of California. La Herradura Polo Club plays in the valley year-round, with matches, lessons, and clinics, while Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, forty minutes south along the coast, runs a full season from May through October with Friday Happy Hour matches and Sunday feature games. Each late June, the Santa Ynez Valley Polo Classic at Piocho Ranch draws the season together, and its 13th edition in 2026 sold out with more than 300 guests.

The wine story runs just as deep. Six small towns (Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Solvang) share a compact valley where Rhône reds, Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, estate Cabernet, and Sauvignon Blanc all thrive within twenty-five minutes of one another. That closeness is what lets a polo weekend here unfold so gracefully: a chukker at eleven, a tasting at two, and dinner by seven, without a moment that feels rushed.

Where to Watch Polo in the Santa Ynez Valley

Polo in Santa Barbara County is not a single venue but a rotation of clubs and estates. The most rewarding weekends choose two.

La Herradura Polo Club and Equestrian Center

La Herradura is the valley’s home club and our neighbor, five minutes from The Polo House. It is the simplest way to see polo without leaving Santa Ynez. Play runs year-round, with a 4-goal monthly series from May through September alongside weekly matches, USPA qualifiers, and invitational cups. It is also where we send guests who would like to pick up a mallet themselves, through a private lesson or clinic with the club’s pro team.

• Address: 3720 Baseline Ave, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
• Hours (Sat/Sun): 9 AM to 5 PM
• Phone: +1 561-722-9001
• What to do: Watch a club match when the calendar allows, or book a private lesson
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Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club

Forty minutes down the coast in Carpinteria, SBPRC is the region’s great spectator stage. The 2026 season followed its familiar arc: a 12-Goal Series in May and June, High-Goal in July and August, and 8-Goal in September and October. Two dates are worth shaping a weekend around: the Friday Happy Hour match at 4 PM (gates at 2 PM, complimentary admission) and Sunday Polo at 3 PM (4 PM in July and August, gates at 11 AM), best enjoyed with a tailgate lunch beside the field.

• Address: 3300 Via Real, Carpinteria, CA 93013
• Hours (Sat): 11 AM to 8 PM (season only)
• Phone: +1 805-684-6683
• What to do: The Sunday feature match, with a tailgate lunch on the field
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Happy Canyon Vineyard and the SYV Polo Classic

Just outside town on Secretariate Road, Happy Canyon Vineyard is both a serious Bordeaux-style estate and the home of Piocho Ranch, a working polo property that hosts the Santa Ynez Valley Polo Classic each late June. The 2026 edition took place on Saturday, June 27, and the 2027 date will appear on the vineyard’s calendar. Outside of Classic weekend, the tasting room remains one of the most admired in the valley.

• Address: 1100 Secretariate St, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
• Hours (Sat/Sun): 11 AM to 5 PM
• Phone: +1 805-203-0749
• Signature wine: Piocho Sauvignon Blanc and the estate Bordeaux blends
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Folded Hills

West along the 101, Folded Hills offers a quieter, occasional brush with the sport. The working ranch and estate winery hosts polo days from time to time, and its polo field is home to the Santa Barbara County Vintners Festival each fall. With or without a match on the calendar, the farmstead rewards an unhurried afternoon of Grenache and Syrah, with the ranch animals wandering the grounds.

• Address: 2323 Old Coast Hwy, Gaviota, CA 93117
• Hours (Sat/Sun): 11 AM to 4 PM
• Phone: +1 805-694-8086
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Where to Taste Wine: Estate Wineries Near Santa Ynez

Estate wineries reward a slower pace: seated tastings, vineyard walks, and the occasional tour. We suggest no more than two a day, a proper lunch in between, and letting the drive through the hills become part of the pleasure.

Sunstone Winery

Sunstone may be the most photogenic estate near Santa Ynez, a Provençal compound of stone and lavender set among organic vines on Refugio Road. It is at its loveliest in late afternoon light, when a seated tasting on the terrace pairs well with the Rhône-style blends and the estate Bordeaux, the “Eros” flagship in particular.

• Address: 125 N Refugio Rd, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
• Hours (Sat/Sun): 11 AM to 5 PM
• Phone: +1 805-688-9463
• Order: Rhône blend, estate Bordeaux blend, Viognier
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Brave & Maiden Estate

For many of our guests, Brave & Maiden is the reservation the weekend is built around: a thoughtfully paced seated tasting, a lawn made for lingering, and one of the most consistent Cabernet programs in the valley. Book a mid-morning slot, so the wines open the day rather than close it.

• Address: 649 N Refugio Rd, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
• Hours (Sat/Sun): 10 AM to 4 PM
• Phone: +1 805-693-2989
• Order: Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc
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Roblar Winery

Roblar is a full winery day in one place: a generous estate with vineyard views, food from its own kitchen, and bold reds that stand up to anything from the grill. If it is pouring, the 2021 “Grace & Grit” deserves your attention, a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot with notes of cassis, cedar, chocolate, and graphite.

• Address: 3010 Roblar Ave, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
• Hours (Sat): 11 AM to 4:30 PM · (Sun): 10 AM to 3:30 PM
• Phone: +1 805-686-2603
• Order: 2021 Grace & Grit Bordeaux blend, estate Cabernet, Syrah
• Open in Google Maps

Gainey Estate Vineyards & Tasting Room

Set along Highway 246, Gainey makes a graceful first stop of the day. The scenic grounds, balanced whites, and Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir ease you into a tasting without overwhelming the palate.

• Address: 3950 CA-246, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
• Hours (Sat/Sun): 11 AM to 5 PM
• Phone: +1 805-688-0558
• Order: Sauvignon Blanc, estate Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
• Open in Google Maps

Best Time to Visit for Polo and Wine in California

The most comfortable season for an outdoor weekend in Santa Ynez runs roughly from mid-April through early November, and October is often singled out as the finest month of all for warm days and clear skies. Within that season, three windows stand apart for a polo and wine tasting weekend.

Mid-May, around Mother’s Day weekend, SBPRC opens its polo season with the “Polo & Bubbles” exhibition, and the valley is at its greenest. Late June brings the Santa Ynez Valley Polo Classic, with the 12-Goal Series underway at SBPRC. Early October belongs to Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley, four days of curated tastings, vineyard walks, and chef dinners across six towns, along with the Santa Barbara County Vintners Festival on the Folded Hills polo field.

Weekends in each of these windows book early, so we recommend reserving your stay and dinners three to six months ahead.

Plan Your Polo and Wine Tasting Weekend

The finest polo and wine weekends in California leave a little room for the unplanned: one more pour on the terrace, a longer stroll between tasting rooms, a final chukker in the late afternoon light. Staying in the heart of Santa Ynez lets the details fall away, so the weekend can be about what you came for.

Reserve your stay at The Polo House, and let our team shape your weekend around the polo dates, wineries, and tables that matter most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where in California can you watch polo?

The two active polo destinations for weekend visitors are Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria (May through October, with Friday Happy Hour matches at 4 PM and Sunday feature matches at 3 or 4 PM) and La Herradura Polo Club in the Santa Ynez Valley (year-round club play, lessons, and clinics). Piocho Ranch at Happy Canyon Vineyard hosts the annual Santa Ynez Valley Polo Classic each late June.

What is the polo season in California?

Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club runs its full spectator season from May through October. La Herradura Polo Club plays year-round, with a 4-goal monthly series from May through September and additional events throughout the calendar. The Santa Ynez Valley Polo Classic is a single-day event, typically held on the last weekend of June.

How many wineries can I visit in a day?

Two estate wineries and one town tasting room is the ideal balance for most guests. Beyond three tastings, the palate begins to lose its nuance, so we suggest a proper sit-down lunch in the middle of the day.

Do I need a reservation for wine tasting in Santa Ynez?

Yes, for estate wineries such as Brave & Maiden, Sunstone, Roblar, and Happy Canyon, and for most Los Olivos tasting rooms on weekends. Restaurants like S.Y. Kitchen, Trattoria Grappolo, and Bar Le Côte are best reserved several weeks ahead.

How far is Santa Ynez from Los Angeles?

About two hours from downtown Los Angeles via US-101, which makes the valley one of the most accessible polo and wine weekends in California.

Can you attend polo matches without being a member?

Yes. The Friday Happy Hour match at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club offers complimentary admission, and Sunday matches are ticketed and open to the public. The Santa Ynez Valley Polo Classic is a public charity event with tickets sold in advance, and the 2026 edition sold out, so plan early. La Herradura welcomes visitors for scheduled club matches and lessons.